Episode 2: Tilapia Fish Farming Tips
Tilapia fish
Episode 2: Tilapia Fish Farming Tips
(This is a continuation of the previous article on fish farming. Please visit the previous article via this link- Simple guide to catfish farming)
As stated earlier, fish farming in Nigeria is gaining adequate recognition and it is fast becoming lucrative as the market keeps growing and expanding.
Tilapia fish; another fish species for fish farming
Tilapia fish farm is the second most common fish farm in Nigeria after the catfish farm. Just like catfish, tilapia fish is not the most consumed fish among Nigerians but its market and demand is on the increase.
It can be grown in tanks, jars, tarpaulin, concrete ponds, natural ponds, shallow waters, and even stagnant waters.
Tilapia is one of the easiest and profitable species of fish to rear/farm. Though tilapia is considered to be an omnivore, it feeds mostly on algae, plankton, and other vegetation.
As a result of the fish mode of feeding, the tilapia pond must be fertilized (using poultry droppings, cow dung, or pig droppings) to permit the growth of both microscopic and macroscopic vegetation which serves as feed.
The fertilization of the fish pond must be properly scheduled and controlled depending on the growth of the fishes and the soil quality. Both organic and inorganic fertilizers can be used for fertilization purposes.
Just like catfish farming, tilapia fish has both the nursery and the grown-out fish farm. Most farmers have both and others do not. In the grow-out tilapia fish farm, most farmers choose to grow only male tilapia fish over the female.
This is because the male tilapia fish is usually bigger and energy-efficient than the females (this is believed to be as a result of the energy expended during breeding).
To breed more male tilapia fish in the nursery, most farmers use various techniques/methods and advances in the production science.
The most commonly used technique is the addition of methyltestosterone to the juvenile fish diet- this effectively makes the female juvenile fishes to develop as male males.
This chemical does not affect the male juvenile tilapia fish and the chemical is not traceable at harvest as it easily disappears within one month (30 days)
An advanced technique used to breed more male tilapia fish is the use of the knowledge of their chromosomes.
It is a common knowledge that male fish possessive either XY or YY chromosomes while female fish possesses either XY or XX chromosomes.
In this technique, the first generation fries are treated with the hormone estrogen so that all XY female fish are produced. These XY female fishes are then mated with XY males. The preceding generation of male fish can then be mated with XX female fish to obtain YY super male fish. The super male fish can then be kept and used as stock for breeding male fishes as their mating will only result in only male tilapia fishes.
Advantages of tilapia fish farming
- It is easily compatible with other agricultural businesses
- It can feed on almost anything it can find in the water
- It can survive in both freshwater and saltwater depending on the specie
- It can tolerate high density
- It can easily be fattened
- The cost of feeding is reduced as it feeds on vegetation
- It can easily be sold
- It does not constitute any health nor environmental hazard
Episode 2: Tilapia Fish Farming Tips
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